Onion set harvesting machine



March 9, 1937. ,1, WQLTER 2,073,041

ONION SET HARVESTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l March9, 1937.

.1. WQLTER ONION SET HARVESTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet? jzaerzZZr El kfa/bz MZZ March 9, 1937. J. WOLTER ONION SETHARVESTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1936 & a II N km m.illm N 1L 9 m 0 5m \&N 1 1 0 kww um Eva F r M. I .rCF 6 MM uuunw N Qmva 8 H w v mm h J 0m 1 l M P h M\ N w m? W N. W h m Mm mm. mm Nmv 4 mmPatented Mar. 9, 1937 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,073,041 ONION SETHARVESTING MACHINE John Wolten Morton Grove, Ill. Application June 1c,1936, Serial No, 85,547

14 Claims. (61. 55-138) This invention relates to improvements inharvesting machines particularly adapted, though not necessarily limitedin its use, for harvesting onion sets, and one of the objects of theinvention is to provide in a machine of this character improved meansfor digging or removing onion sets from the ground, elevating them bymeans of a conveyor or elevator and depositing them into a receiver fromwhich they may be delivered in into a suitable sack or container.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the onion setswill be separated from the dirt while they are being advanced by theconveyor or elevator, and also while they are if; being handled whilethey are in the receiver.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character improvedmeans whereby the plow or scoop end of the elevator structure may bemoved or set into an operative position according to the depth which itis desired to have the plow or scoop enter the ground.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the fea- 25tures of novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating thisinvention and in which Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View astaken on line ll, Figure 2, of a device of this character constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the harvester,

showing the same attached to an ordinary mowing machine, the latterbeing partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail, longitudinal, sectional view of aportion of the machine as taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

49 Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on line 5'5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 65, Figure 3, on anenlarged scale.

45 In the present exemplification of this invention the harvestingmechanism is shown attached to an ordinary mower, although the presentinvention may be operated in any desired manner or connected to anysuitable machine.

50 In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates the land or tractionwheel of the mowing machine to which this invention is applied, and I!desig nates the ordinary shoe, the shoe being supported by a yoke orcasting l2 which is pivotally mount- 55 ed as at l3 upon a bar orsupport M. The casting I2 is adapted to be rockedabout its pivot to rockthe shoe! I, by means of and I5 connected 'as at It to the shoe, and theother end of the rod is pivotally connected as at I1 to the end of alever 18 which is pivotally mounted as at [9 and is provided withan'operating handle 20 at the top thereof, by means of which the lever18 may be swung about itspivot l9 and through the medium of the rod I5cause the shoe II to be rocked. v

The shoe I l as well as the casting I2 is adapted to be bodily elevatedin any suitable manner such as by means of a lever2l to which isconnected a casting 22 that is pivotally'supported. as at 23, and thiscasting is, through'the medium of a pivotally mounted member 24 andlinks andconnections 2526, connected toa bar or member 21 in anysuitable manner, so that when'the lever 2| is rocked about thepivot 23,the shoe II as well as the bar or member 21, will be bodily raised sothat they will be held out of contact with the ground when the machineis moving.

A pawl 28 and ratchet 29 may be provided for holding the parts in theiradjusted position, and a counterbalancing spring 39 may also beprovided.

A pawl 3| connected with the lever is co-operates with the rack 32 tomaintain the parts in the position to which they are adjusted by meansof the lever l8.

All of these parts are of the ordinary and well known construction.

The harvesting machine constituting the subject matter of thisapplication is shown in the present exemplification of the invention asconstituting two units connected together for simultaneous operation,but it is to be understood that any number of these units may beemployed, and as the construction and operation of each of the units isthe same, the description of one will apply equally as well to them all.

The bar or supporting member 21 may be of any desired width and of anysuitable length according to the number of units employed and issupported by the shoe 5 l by having one end thereof secured to the shoeby suitable fastening devices 33, such as bolts or screws, and a portionof this bar ormember 21 is shaped to form a seat 34 of channelformation. In alinement with said seat is arranged an elevator frame 65having a reticulated bottom 36 formed preferably of Wire gauze, thelower end of the frame being connected to thebar or member 2'! by meansof bars or rods 31, one-end of each of which is secured to the sidemembers of the ele-;

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vator frame 35 by suitable fastening devices 38, such as bolts orscrews. The forward ends of these bars or members 31 are formed intoeyes or loops 39 which engage in the eyes or loops 46 on the bar ormember 21, so that the elevator frame 35 will be pivotally connected atits lower end to the bar or member 21.

The upper end of the elevator frame rests upon a suitable support 4|preferably formed by one of the side walls of a receiver 42, into whichthe elevator discharges, the receiver 42 being preferably provided witha reticulated bottom 43. If desired, a portion of the side wall 4| ofthe receiver 42 may be cut away as at 44 for the reception of the upperend of the elevator frame. This receiver 42 is supported from the mainframe of the machine by means of a brace or support 45.

Arranged at the lower end of the elevator frame and resting in the seat34, is a plow or scoop 46 which may be of any desired configuration,.but is preferably of a scoop or channel formation having laterallyprojecting flanges 41 at the top thereof. An extension 48 ofsubstantially U shape formation is connected to the .rear end of thescoop or plow 46 and may be of any desired length so that it will extendinto the elevator or conveyor frame 35 for a substantial distance, andthis extension and the scoop 46 are secured together in any suitablemanner but preferably by cutting away .a portion of the top of the wallsof the extension 48 as at 49 (see particularly Figure .6) and deflectingthe cut away portions to form laterally extending flanges 50 upon whichthe flanged portions 41 of the scoop or plow 46 rest. Fastening devicessuch as screws or bolts, pass through the superposed flanges and securethese parts together and against relative movement.

The bottom of the extension 48 is spaced sufficiently above the bottom36 of the conveyor or elevator frame 35 so as to permit the scoop 46 andthe extension 48 to have a swinging movement with respect to the frame35 to position the end of the scoop or plow 46 to enter the ground inthe position desired.

With the construction thus far described, it will be manifest that byoperating the lever l3 by the handle 26 after releasing a retaining pawlthat holds the lever I8 in position, and which retaining pawl cooperateswith the rack-32, the shoe II will be swung about the pivot 14, and withit the plow or scoop 46 and the extension 48 to raise or lower theforward end of the plow or scoop with respect to the conveyor orelevator frame 35.

Likewise, by operating the lever .2I the shoe I I and the plow or scoop48 with the bar or member 21 will be raised to lift these parts out ofcontact with the ground.

Arranged at the lower end of the frame 35 and on a shaft 52, aresprocket wheels 53 over which a pair of endless sprocket chains 54pass,'and at the upper end of the frame 35 are another pair of sprocketwheels .55 over which these sprocket chains also pass. The sprocketwheels 55 are mounted upon a shaft 56 journaled in suitable bearings,preferably the sides of the frame 35, the bearings being preferablyformed by slots 51 so that vby adjusting the shaft 56 in the slots 51,-the endless flexible conveyors or elevators, here shown as sprocketchains, may be tightened or loosened, and the sprockets 55 are held intheir adjusted positions preferably by means of nuts or collars 58threaded on the ends of the shaft 56.

Slots 59 are also provided in the side of the frame 35 which communicatewith the slots 5'! but are arranged preferably at right angles theretoso as to receive the shaft 56 to permit the sprocket wheels 55 to beadjusted toward and away from the bottom 36 of the frame 35, accordingto the nature of the product being harvested.

Secured to the sprocket chains 54 and extending transversely of theframe 35 are flights 60, any desired number of which may be provided andthese flights may be constructed of any suitable material,

The lower runs of the conveyor or elevator are disposed in opposingparallel relation to the bottom of the frame and overlie a portion ofthe scoop or plow 46.

Arranged adjacent the lower end of the frame 35 and in proximity to thepoint where the plow or scoop 46 discharges into the elevator orconveyor frame- 35, is a pulley 6| which extends across the frame 35 andbeneath which .pulley the lower run of the endless flexible members 54pass. This pulley is mounted upon a shaft 62 and the ends of the shaftare journaled in slots 63 preferably provided in bearing plates 64 thatare secured by means of suitable fastening devices 65 to the end of theframe 35. The slots 63 are preferably upright slots so as to permit thepulley 6| to be moved toward and away from the bottom of the frame 35 tocause the flights of the conveyor or elevator to travel in closeproximity to the bottom 36 of the frame 35. Nuts or fastening devices 66are provided on the end of the shaft 62 for securing the pulley 6! inits adjusted position.

The flights 66 are preferably secured to sup ports 61 that are securedto and carried by the endless flexible members 54.

As the machine advances and the plow or scoop 46 enters the ground itwill pass beneath the onions, and as the machine advances the onionswill be moved through the plow or scoop 46 to a position that theflights 60 on the endless flexible conveyor or elevator members willengage them and move them through the frame 35 and across thereticulated bottom 36 there of. This will permit of the separation ofthe dirt from the onions and the onions will be conveyed to the top ofthe frame 35 and there delivered into the receiver 42.

By adjusting the lever l8 the depth to which the plow or scoop 46 entersthe ground may be controlled or varied and by. actuating the lever 2!,the plow together withthe lower end of the elevator or conveyor, as wellas the shoe II on the supporting machine may be raised and low ered.

Motion may be imparted to the endless con-- veyors in any desired orsuitable manner either from a separate or independent motor or from oneof the traction wheels of the machine to which the attachment isapplied.

In the present form of the invention the conveyors or elevators areoperated from one of the land or traction wheels l6 through the mediumof a gear wheel 68 which is connected to one of the traction wheels forrotation therewith. This gear wheel meshes with a pinion wheel 69 thatis secured to a shaft 16, and connected to the shaft is a beveled gear Hwith which a beveled gear 12 meshes. This beveled gear 12 is connectedto a shaft 13 journaled in a suitable bearing l4. On the end of theshaft 13 is a sprocket wheel over which a sprocket chain it passes, andthis sprocket chain also passes over a sprocket wheel 17 secured to ashaft 18 that is journaled in suitable bearings 79 preferably carried bythe bar 21.

On the shaft 18 is a beveled gear 80 which meshes with a beveled gear 8|secured to the shaft 52 for rotation therewith, this shaft 52 beingjournaled in suitable bearings 82.

When the machine advances, motion of the traction wheel will be impartedto the sprocket chain 16 and from the sprocket chain 16 the shaft 52will be rotated through the medium of the intermediate gearing, and therotation of the shaft 52 will in turn operate the endless flexibleconveyor or elevator members 54.

The upper runs of the endless flexible members 55 are supported and areguided over supporting members 33 preferably in the form or channelsextending lengthwise of the frame 35, and these supports or channels arethemselves held in position by means of supports 8t, any number of whichmay be provided and which in turn are supported by uprights 85 mountedupon plates 85, the latter extending across the frame 35 and beingsecured or anchored in position in any suitable manner, such as by meansof fastening devices 81 entering the frame 35.

This will prevent the upper runs of the conveyor chains from sagging andwill assist in maintaining the endless members 54 against disengagementfrom the sprocket wheels or pulleys over which they pass.

The harvesting units, if more than one is employed, are laterally spacedfrom each other a suitable distance so as to permit of the hervesting ofthe onion sets from a plurality of rows at a time and the units areconnected together through the medium of the driving shaft 52 foroperation in unison, and the plows or scoops of the elements aresimultaneously adjusted with respect to the elevator or conveyor framesby the operation of a single lever,

Likewise, all of the plows and the scoops and the forward ends of theframes 35 will be simul taneously raised and lowered.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:-

1. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped elevator frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame andconnected therewith for independent vertical movement with respectthereto, an endless conveyor belt journaled in said frame and having itslowor run disposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of theframe and overlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor forengaging and moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means foractuating said conveyor, and means for moving said plow with respect tosaid frame.

2. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped elevator frame, the bottom of said frame being reticulated, aplow at the lower end of the frame and connected therewith forindependent vertical movement with respect thereto, an endless conveyorbelt journaled in said frame and having its lower run disposed inopposing parallel relation to the the bottom of the frame and overlyinga portion belt journaled of the blow, flights on the conveyor forengaging and moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means foractuating said conveyor, and means for moving said plow with respecttosaid frame.

3. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped elevator frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame andconnected therewith for independent vertical movement with respectthereto, an endless conveyor belt journaled in said frame and having itslower run disposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of theframe and. overlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor forengaging and moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, a guideextending along the frame and over which guide the upper run of saidconveyor travels to be guided and supported thereby, means for actuatingsaid conveyor, and, means for moving said plow with respect to saidframe.

4. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined elevatorframe, a plow at the lower end of the frame connectedtherewith forindependent movement with respect thereto, a

piuley in the frame adjacent the upper-end thereof, a pulley in theframe adjacent the plow, an endless conveyor belt passing over saidpulleys and having its lower run disposed in opposing relation to thebottom of said frame and overlying a portion of the plow, flights on theconveyor for engaging and moving the onions over the bottom of saidframe, means mounting said pulleys for adjustment in directions towardsand away from the bottom of said frame, means for actuating saidconveyor, and means for mow ing said plow with respect to said frame. 3

5. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined elevatorframe, a plow at the lower end of the frame connected therewith forindependent movement with respect thereto, a pulley in the frameadjacent the upper end thereof, a pulley in the frame adjacent the plow,an endless conveyor belt passing over said pulleys and having its lowerrun disposed in opposing relation to the bottom of said frame andoverlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor for engagingand moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means mounting saidpulleys for adjustment in directions towards and away from the bottom ofsaidframe, means for actuating said conveyor, and means for moving saidplow with respect to said frame, one of said pulleys being also mountedfor adjustment in directions lengthwise of the line of travel of saidconveyor for taking up slack therein.

6. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped elevator frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame andconnected therewith for independent vertical move ment with respectthereto, an endless conveyor in said frame and having its lower rundisposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of the frame andoverlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor for engagingand moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means for actuatingsaid conveyor, means for moving said plow with respect to said frame,and additional means for raising and lowering the plow and the lower endof said frame with respect to the surface of the ground.

7. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped elevator frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame andconnected therewith for independent vertical move ment with respectthereto, an endless conveyor belt journaled in said frame and having itslower run disposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of theframe and overlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor forengaging and moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means foractuating said conveyor, a reticulated support atthe upper end of thesaid frame for receiving the onions from the conveyor, and means forswinging said plow about its pivot with respect to said frame.

8. In an onion set harvesting machine, an up wardly inclined troughshaped'elevator frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame andconnected therewith for independent vertical movement with respectthereto, an endless conveyor belt journaled in said frame and having itslower run disposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of theframe and overlying a portion of the plow, flights on the conveyor forengaging and moving the onions over the bottom of said frame, means foractuating said conveyor, a support at the upper end of the said framefor receiving the onions from the conveyor, and which frame is slidablymounted upon said support, and means for raising and lowering at willthe lower end of said frame and said plow, to cause the said frame toslide upon the said support.

9. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped conveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame, armsrigidly connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the plow, saidplow being spaced in advance of the frame, a trough shaped extensionconnected with the plow and telescoping into said frame, an endlessconveyor in said frame having its lower run disposed in opposingparallel relation to the bottom of the frame and overlying a portion ofthe plow, flights onthe conveyor, means for operating the conveyor, andmeans for raising and lowering the plow and said extension with relationto said frame.

10. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped conveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame, armsrigidly connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the plow, saidplow being spaced in advance of the frame, a trough shaped extensionconnected with the plow and telescoping into said frame, an endlessconveyor in said frame havingits lower run disposed in opposing parallelrelation to the bottom of the frame and overlying a portion of the plow,flights on the conveyor, means for operating the conveyor, a pulleyadjacent the lower end of the said frame over which the lower run ofsaid conveyor passes, means mounting said pulley for adjustment towardsand away from the bottom of said frame, and means for raising andlowering the plow and said extension with relation to said frame.

11. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined trough likeconveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of and spaced from the frame,said plow being of substantially U shape, laterally projecting flangesat the top of the walls of the plow, a substantially U shaped extensiontelescoping with the end of the plow, laterally projecting flanges onthe said extension against which the flanges in the plow rest,fastening' means passing through said flanges for securing the extensionand plow together, said extension telescoping with said frame, meanssupporting the plow and extension for movement with respect to saidframe, an endless conveyor belt journaled in the frame and having itslower run disposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of theframe and overlying said plow, and means for operating said conveyor.

12. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined trough likeconveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of and spaced from the frame,said plow being of substantially U shape, laterally projecting flangesat the top of the walls of the plow, a substantially U shaped extensiontelescoping with the end of the plow, laterally projecting flanges onthe said extension against which the flanges in the plow rest, fasteningmeans passing through said flanges for securing the extension and plowtogether, said extension telescoping with said frame, means supportingthe plow and extension for movement with respect to said frame, anendless conveyor belt journaled on the frame and having its lower rundisposed in opposing parallel relation to the bottom of the frame andoverlying said plow, a pulley adjacent the lower end of said frame andover which pulley the lower run of said conveyor passes, means mountingsaid pulley for adjustment towards and away from the bottom of theframe, and means for actuating said conveyor.

13. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped conveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame, armsrigidly connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the plow, saidplow being spaced in advance of the frame, a trough shaped extensionconnected with the plow and telescoping into said frame, an endlessconveyor in said frame having its lower run disposed in opposingparallel relation to the bottom of the frame and overlying a portion ofthe plow, flights on the conveyor, means for operating the conveyor,means for moving said plow and extension with respect to the frame invertical directions, and means for bodily raising and lowering the plowand extension.

14. In an onion set harvesting machine, an upwardly inclined troughshaped conveyor frame, a plow at the lower end of the frame, armsrigidly connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the plow, saidplow being spaced in advance of the frame, a trough shaped extensionconnected with the plow and telescoping into said frame, an endlessconveyor in said frame having its lower run disposed in opposingparallel relation to the bottom of the frame and overlying a portion ofthe plow, flights on the conveyor, means for operating the conveyor, aguide extending in directions lengthwise of said frame for supportingand guiding the upper run of said conveyor, a pulley adjacent the lowerend of the frame and over which the lower run of the conveyor passes,means mounting the pulley for adjustment towards and away from thebottom of said frame, and means for raising and lowering the plow withrespect to said frame.

JOHN WOLTER.

